Ascent Trip Report

This is an account of my final "New England's 100 Highest".

My approach is from the USA side. Equipped with maps and G Daniell's instructions my wife Rose and I drove up Wiggle Brook Road yesterday to the mouth of Porter Brook where we camped for the night - ready for the west approach to White Cap, Monument 450 and Boundary Peak.This is a brief summary of the driving directions provided by Daniell ..... We left hwy 16 at the north-end of Cupsuptic Lake (west of Rangeley) and drove Morton Cutoff Road north to a right (northeast) on Lincoln Pond Road, at a road crossing past the large bridge over the Kennebago River (a popular fishing spot) turned left (north) on Canada Road (stays to the east side of Kennebago River). At a main junction I stayed left, crossed over Kennebago River to Wiggle Brook Road and followed it as it wound its way north to the mouth of Porter Brook (at a removed bridge). We camped here.

Rose was not up for this hike, she'll hike the dirt road north to the Canadian border while I'm away (my return route). Early this morning I crossed Porter Brook just below the removed bridge and followed the main logging road northeast to just below the col of White Cap - Monument 450 Peak, under beautiful sunny skies and a heavy frost on the ground. A short easy climb to the col led me to a herd path which I lost a few times on the way east to the summit of White Cap for my 99th. I had to go negotiate some dense bushwacking, luckily it was for a short distance. I forgot to sign the register however I did take a photo of the canister. Through the trees to the west I was able to identify my next destination, Monument 450 Peak.

I back tracked west to the col on the herd path and then without having to bushwack an easy climb to MONUMENT 450 PEAK on the US-CDN International Border. From here I followed the border swath nb on a good track, dropped to Dennison bog and continued nb on the open border swath all the way to "BOUNDARY PEAK(BORDER MONUMENTS 445-446 PEAK)" AND MY 100TH with no problems. Except for a few short sections it was like walking on a maintained trail. I back tracked to Dennison bog and took the Canadian logging road west (right) to Arnold Lake and then (left) for an easy stroll back to the car on a good dirt road (Rose had hiked it hours earlier) ..... a comfortable short exit and all as per G Daniell's excellent instructions.

Overall it was an easy comfortable day. Being Canadian it was fitting that I finished on Boundary even though it was not by design. Its location made it feel so far and difficult so I simply kept putting it off.

It is exceptional to see such a free, safe, friendly and unprotected border, how lucky we are to be citizens of these two friendly countries. More people should get to experience this feeling of friendship. I loved my day.

This was my first exposure to "salt-lick Moose Traps" and I do not agree with the Canadian Moose Hunters who sit in a tower waiting for the Moose to come and lick the salt. What kind of sport is this ...... to me this is unsportsman like, scarry and cruel. I would be less critical if the hunter was shooting primarily to put food on the table, but my understanding is that they are members of a hunting club. This is probably an old tradition when food was the primary reason for the "Moose Traps", we are now in the eve of the 21st century. By the way, Americans don't practice this sport (at least not in this area).

I want to thank G Daniell for his excellent 21 page work on "ROUTES TO NEW ENGLAND HUNDRED HIGHEST PEAKS". The driving distances to our camp site were long and on private gravel and dirt logging roads that are confusing due to lack of signs. I had no problems following his instructions. For the latest information, as of Oct 2004, contact the following: